Hitching-post.



0; A. MILLER. HITGHING'POST. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 5, 1908 Patented Aug. 3, 1909.

IINITED STATES FfQENT @FEICE.

CHARLES A. MILLER, OF MARSHALLTOWN, IOWA.

HITGHING-POST State of Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful Hitching-Post, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a hitching post of simple, durable and inexpensive construction, so arranged that the operator may quickly and easily connect hitching strap with. the post without tying any knots in the strap, and when thus connected the strap will be firmly and immovably held until released by the pressure of a knob at the side of the hitching post.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a top or plan view of a hitching post embodying my invention with a strap therein. Fig. 2 shows a front elevation of the hitching post embodying my invention with the knob removed and with a hitchin strap in position therein, the stem of the knob and the strap being shown in section: Fig. 3 shows a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2; and Fig. ishows a detail, sectional view of the pin to which the hitching strap is connected.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, I have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate the base of the device to which the lag screw 11 is connected, said lag screw being designed to enter a wooden post or the like. At the top of the hitching post is a substantially cylindrical body portion 12, having a slot 13 at one side. The edges of the base 10 adjacent to the slot are preferably provided with rounded ribs 14.

l v ithin the cylindrical body portion 12, near its lower end, is an integral sleeve 15 extended through the side opposite the slot 13 toward the center of the body portion 12, and the side of the cylinder 12 in line with the sleeve 15 is provided with an opening. Slidably mounted in said opening is a pin 16 having a knob 17 on its outer end and a smaller rounded projection 18 on its inner end designed to enter the sleeve 15. Mounted within said sleeve and surrounding the part 18 is an extensible coil spring 19 having Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 5, 1908.

Patented Aug. 3, 1909.

Serial No. 151,865.

one end in engagement with the body portion of the pin 16 to thereby normally hold the knob 17 at its outer limit of movement. Fixed to the pin 16 is an upright 20 having head 21 at its upper end, the lower portion of said head being contained below the top of the body portion 12. A flange 22 projects rearwardly from the part 20 and extends over the sleeve 15. By this arrangement it is obvious that the upright 20 may move within the cylinder toward and from the slot 13 and that its movement may be effected in one direction by pushing the knob 17 inwardly, and will be effected in the other direction by the spring 19. The hitching strap is indicated by the reference numeral 23.

In practical use and assuming that it is desired to connect the hitching strap with the post, the operator then forms a loop in the end portion of the hitching strap and passes said loop around the head 21. of the upright 20 and extends the portions of the hitching strap adjacent to the loop through the slot13. When this is done, the pressure of the spring 19 will force the upright 20 to position for clamping the hitching strap between the upright and the sides of the slot 13, and a pull upon the strap will only tend to more firmly clamp the strap in its position, hence the strap cannot be released by any pull upon it which would ordinarily be given by a horse. W hen it is desired to release the strap, the operator presses upon. the knob 17, thus forcing the knob and the upright inwardly toward the center of the body portion 12 and. away from the slot 13, whereupon the strap may readily be pulled out of the hitching post. By this arrangi-iment it is obvious that a hitching strap may be quickly and easily attached to the post and when once attached will be firmly held, and that it may also be quickly and easily removed from the post. Furthermore, the entire device is of simple and inexpensive construction.

I claim as my invention.

1. A hitching post comprising a hollow body portion having a slot at one side, an upright mounted. therein and capable of movement toward and from the slot, said upright having an enlarged head, the lower end of which is below the top of the slot, a spring actuated means for normally holding the said upright toward the slot, and a knob connected with the upright for moving it away from the slot.

2. An improved hitching post, comprising a base, means for connecting the base to a stationary support, a body portion supported upon the base substantially cylindrical in shape and formed with a slot at one side, a sleeve within the body portion extended l'roin the side opposite the slot to ward the center of the body'portion, said body portion having an opening in line with the sleeve, a pin slidably mounted in said opening and inserted in the sleeve, a knob on the outer end of the pin, an eX tensible coil spring mounted upon the pin and inserted in the sleeve, an upright fixed to the pin, a flange connected to the upright and resting upon said sleeve, said upright formed with a head the lower portion thereof being contained within the said body portion, substantially as and for the purposes stated.

Des Moines, Iowa, Aug. 22, 1908. CHARLES A. MILLER.

l Vitnesses:

E. A. CRANDALL, P. M. PAULLiN. 

